Has anybody photographed flyball before? I have a fly ball tournament that I have to photograph this week and would appreciate any tips anybody has. Thank you in advance.

For people/handler emotion, start shots are good: and for dog excitement, finish shots with the dog hitting the motivator for a reward-game. Fastest dog in the USA (and world) is named Moose, runs for Spring Loaded I think, not sure where they are based. That is a broad hint for posting a shot here if he happens to be running.

Also people-wise, box-loaders work fast and smart to get a new ball in for each dog (correct size and on its correct side of the box), and call each dog to give it the direction to start a run, so are worth a few shots of themselves with a dog turning (as distinct from cut off at the knees to show just the dog).


Judge says "Teams ready, watch the lights" Start-dogs are released at the green light.

Also find many owners appreciate a portrait, they generally have some action shots of their dog but not a good head shot.

Thanks PC for the info. I leave in 5 hours to go on a month of photography. I will be photographing Dog Agility, Fly Ball, Lure Coursing, Denali and Wrangell-St Elias National Parks. See you in a month.

That is really good info you have shared, PC. I always aimed for box shots but it was a real challenge and a bit unpredictable.

David, some of us will be envying you - sounds like a wonderful and diverse month of photography you have ahead.
Safe travels and we will look forward to seeing some pictures. I especially would love to see some NP images.

You take such great flyball shots PC....I am hopeless at them! They must take a ton of practice to get right.

The flyball shot of the dog over the box is great!

Hey Tess32, I would think that the flyball shots, over the box as in the first shot could be done by just focusing on the box, or just in front of it at about f5.6 and just shoot the dog when it hits the the right spot, and bingo. turn the focus contol OFF from the shutter and move it exclusively to the focus button or the AE lock button. No focusing issues just shoot away once the dog shows up. I would not try to track the dog, i'd just gamble and pick on box and shoot then move on. . .

PC - That is a great shot of Frodo and I love the caption.

FinalShot - sounds good in theory, its trickier than you think at the time ;-), unless youve done it alot and have a system in place but I can truly see the benefits of a tripod which I have never used. Not all the shots I have taken are keepers, have a few images with no dog to be seen in picture, hehe.

it works, it's not a theory. . . granted, you wont be 100% and still it does take practice and somtimes, especially if you dont have the right light, you dont have enough shutter speed, but if you do, it's the best way to shoot that kind of speed. I've been shooting horse races and rodeos for years and even with the best equipment money can buy, I still prefocus if I know the action is too fast for the lenses or my predictive skills. . . It's even eisier when you know, for example, the dog is going to in the box and you can time the jumps based on the prior jumps.

In any event, it just was a suggestion since almost anyone with a camera can have a chance at a good image of actionn, now and then by prefocusing, in fact you dont even need a fancy lens to take great images, as long as you get the timing right on the dog leaps and have enough light, it will work.

I'd use a monopod, but a tripod would be a dream, especially if you dont have to move around.

Nonetheless, it's a great shot no matter what the method. . .

Piece

Agree with pre-focussing and have done it with some jumping/hunting shots and flyball (more successful with front on shots than side on though). What types of things do you prefocus on in rodeo? Do you mean like barrel racing and that kind of thing?

I have been thinking about getting a monopod, especially for use with my 400mm lenses. Brand/model suggestions anyone? Something not too expensive.